Events, Causes, Impacts
Napoleon to 1807
Specification:
The career of Bonaparte to 1799:
o early life and character
o military leadership and reasons for success to
1799 including Toulon, the Italian Campaign,
Egypt, the weaknesses of the Thermidorian
regime and the coup of Brumaire 1799
Napoleons reforms as first consul
o Constitutional, legal, financial, and educational
changes
Establishment and nature of the empire
Nature of and reasons for military successes after
1799
o Marengo and the war of the third coalition,
Ulm, Austerlitz and Trafalgar
Aug 1769: Napoleon born in Corsica
Father was a minor aristocrat and lawyer appointed by Louis
XVI as Corsican representative in 1777. He used this influence
to secure Napoleons education at Ecole Militaire, Paris.
Socially isolated as a child due to Italianate appearance and
accent = focussed more on school where he enthusiastically
specialised in artillery.
1785: Became first Corsican graduate of Ecole Militaire,
Paris
Jan 1786: Napoleon became an officer.
1789: Returned to Corsica
Became involved in revolutionary politics- led to conflict with
veteran Corsican nationalist leader Paoli = all Bonaparts had to
flee to France. In Paris, Napoleon became a Jacobin supporter
, Events, Causes, Impacts
and made new connections. For example, with Robespierre
brother, Augustin and the Corsican Jacobin deputy Saliceti. This
led him to his leading role at Toulon. Later, it contributed to his
freeing from house arrests after the fall of the Jacobins and led
to his former supporter at Toulon, Barras, to recommend him to
the govt to help deal with unrest.
Aug-Nov 1793: Toulon campaign
Napoleon used effective artillery and personal courage
(suffered a bayonet wound to the leg in fighting) to drive out
the British Navy and seize a major naval base. First victory
bringing him to fame and image as “God of War”. It led to his
promotion to Brigadier General in charge of artillery of the
French Army of Italy. Also led to the Directory using him to
protect against Paris mobs – whiff of grapeshot.
Oct 1795: Whiff of Grapeshot
Napoleon was put in charge of suppressing crowds threatening
the Convention due to his recognised political radicalism and
artillery knowledge. His artillery dispersed hostile crowds of 25
000 by firing cannons point blank at them. This led to his
promotion as commander of the Italian campaign and in the
Army of the Interior.
The demonstration Napoleon was suppressing was royalist and
provoked by the Convention’s new law ensuring the new
Councils would be dominated by those who supported the
Republic.
Mar 1796: Commander of Italian Campaign
Unexpected success: France had previously been fighting
Austria & their Italian allies with little success. However, the
French made rapid advances and surprise attacks and
abandoned commonly used, slow moving masss infantry for
smaller, fast-moving troops to win and take 150 000 prisoners.
They defeated Piedmont in 2 weeks when the Piedmontese
gave up.
Napoleon to 1807
Specification:
The career of Bonaparte to 1799:
o early life and character
o military leadership and reasons for success to
1799 including Toulon, the Italian Campaign,
Egypt, the weaknesses of the Thermidorian
regime and the coup of Brumaire 1799
Napoleons reforms as first consul
o Constitutional, legal, financial, and educational
changes
Establishment and nature of the empire
Nature of and reasons for military successes after
1799
o Marengo and the war of the third coalition,
Ulm, Austerlitz and Trafalgar
Aug 1769: Napoleon born in Corsica
Father was a minor aristocrat and lawyer appointed by Louis
XVI as Corsican representative in 1777. He used this influence
to secure Napoleons education at Ecole Militaire, Paris.
Socially isolated as a child due to Italianate appearance and
accent = focussed more on school where he enthusiastically
specialised in artillery.
1785: Became first Corsican graduate of Ecole Militaire,
Paris
Jan 1786: Napoleon became an officer.
1789: Returned to Corsica
Became involved in revolutionary politics- led to conflict with
veteran Corsican nationalist leader Paoli = all Bonaparts had to
flee to France. In Paris, Napoleon became a Jacobin supporter
, Events, Causes, Impacts
and made new connections. For example, with Robespierre
brother, Augustin and the Corsican Jacobin deputy Saliceti. This
led him to his leading role at Toulon. Later, it contributed to his
freeing from house arrests after the fall of the Jacobins and led
to his former supporter at Toulon, Barras, to recommend him to
the govt to help deal with unrest.
Aug-Nov 1793: Toulon campaign
Napoleon used effective artillery and personal courage
(suffered a bayonet wound to the leg in fighting) to drive out
the British Navy and seize a major naval base. First victory
bringing him to fame and image as “God of War”. It led to his
promotion to Brigadier General in charge of artillery of the
French Army of Italy. Also led to the Directory using him to
protect against Paris mobs – whiff of grapeshot.
Oct 1795: Whiff of Grapeshot
Napoleon was put in charge of suppressing crowds threatening
the Convention due to his recognised political radicalism and
artillery knowledge. His artillery dispersed hostile crowds of 25
000 by firing cannons point blank at them. This led to his
promotion as commander of the Italian campaign and in the
Army of the Interior.
The demonstration Napoleon was suppressing was royalist and
provoked by the Convention’s new law ensuring the new
Councils would be dominated by those who supported the
Republic.
Mar 1796: Commander of Italian Campaign
Unexpected success: France had previously been fighting
Austria & their Italian allies with little success. However, the
French made rapid advances and surprise attacks and
abandoned commonly used, slow moving masss infantry for
smaller, fast-moving troops to win and take 150 000 prisoners.
They defeated Piedmont in 2 weeks when the Piedmontese
gave up.
